Essential Records' two time GRAMMY-nominated hard rock outfit RED packs a potent sonic punch on its third project, Until We Have Faces, a record that leaps out of the speakers with a ferocity and complexity reflecting the band's growth and intensity.
From the opening seconds of "Feed The Machine" through the final, contemplative moments of "Hymn For The Missing," the four-man unit of vocalist Michael Barnes, guitarist Anthony Armstrong, bassist Randy Armstrong and drummer Joe Rickard shows both maturity and abandon can coexist within the various dimensions of rock RED inhabits.
The new album's overarching theme is a search for true identity, inspired by a number of sources, including author C.S. Lewis' book of similar title, Till We Have Faces. The band itself is working through its own new identity - as a four-piece with the addition of drummer Rickard.
Until We Have Faces takes listeners down the path of recognizing the hollowness of life until finding their true identity (revealed on "Faceless"), the idea of creative destruction unveiled in the midst of new life (found on "Let It Burn"), and simultaneously presenting the positive energy found even "in a world so cold" (explored on the infectious, melodic ballad "Not Alone").
Paired again with award-winning producer Rob Graves, Until We Have Faces features RED in its most musically intense place to date - "a combination of our first two records, but on steroids," Michael Barnes notes - daring both RED and its fans to catapult into new rock territories.
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Until We Have Faces| Posted February 02, 2011
When I heard that REd was releasing a new album, and after watching the countless build-up Youtube videos, I knew this album would be great. The album starts off with "Feed the Machine" which just hones back in on the RED sound all fans are used to. The rest of the album is so heavy yet they keep the REd sound while not just handing out another Innocence & Instinct or End of Silence. If you have never heard RED or you want to, pick up this cd and the others because they are one of the best CHristian Alternative bands you can find.
Pure Awesomeness| Posted February 02, 2011
This CD is FOR REAL! Pure and simple awesomeness! DO NOT MISS THIS DISC as Red brings their hard hitting sound crossed with classical sounding strings and piano for their third release. Red begins Until We Have Faces with their signature hardrock sound and continues cranking. Although in my opinion the best song is saved for last as the guys slow things down with Hymn for the Missing. Red is seriously the best rock band on the Christian charts and you are totally missing out if you do not at least listen to UNTIL WE HAVE FACES!
Red "Until We Have Faces" Review| Posted February 02, 2011
Back in 2006, Red released their debut album End of Silence was nominated for a Grammy award. Three years later the band released Innocence and Instinct which sold over 39,000 copies in its first week, and also making history by being the first band in Christian rock history to have a single debut at #1 on radio. Now Red returns in 2011 with one of the most highly anticipated projects of the year, called Until We Have Faces. Inspired by C.S Lewis' work of a similar name, Till We Have Faces, this album is about finding your true identity and an anthem to those who are unsure of theirs.
Until We Have Faces kicks off with the heavy and extremely aggressive opening track “Feed The Machine” is written in the perspective of the world talking to the person, telling them to give up and be what the world wants them to be, instead of being who God has created them to be. This song is sure to please long-time fans of the band with its loud screams, violins, low growling vocals from the lead vocalist Michael Barnes and crunchy guitar distortion.
The first single “Faceless” continues with the story describing a situation where a person feels like they don't know where they fit in the world. The chorus has very passionate vocals and is also extremely catchy, “I'm not, I'm not myself/Feels like I'm someone else/Fallen and faceless/So hollow, hollow inside.” The following song "Lie To Me (Denial)" completes an excellent and engaging beginning, maintaining the hard rock sound.
After the aggressive beginning, the album slows with a few epic and emotional ballads. "Let It Burn" describes times where we as humans question the powerful presence of God during tough circumstances. "How long can you stand the pain/How long will you hide your face/How long will you be afraid/Are you afraid." Michael Barnes' vocals are at their best in "Buried Beneath". This song also has a diverse and interesting range of background noises in the chorus.
"Not Alone" reminds me a little bit of "Never Be The Same" as it is a very slow, emotional and passionate ballad. It reminds us that God will never leave us or forsake us and will always catch us when we fall. The harmonies from the rest of the band with Barnes' vocals during the chorus are absolutely beautiful, easily making it my personal favourite out of all the ballads. This song is different from any others in the set, because it doesn't use a lot of distorted guitar.
The album then grows into the heavier sound that was heard at the beginning with the songs "Watch You Crawl", "The Outside" and "Who We Are". "Watch You Crawl" is my personal favourite off the project because of its rapid guitar riff , passionate and triumphant chorus about conquering the devil and his evil temptations. "I will fight until the end/Get ready to collide/And I will watch you fall again/I'll bury you alive/You tried to bring me to my knees/You tried to take it all/Now I will stand and watch you crawl." The long screams in the bridge are so incredible that they make my spine tingle.
"The Outside" is the most aggressive off the album and was the type of song I'd been waiting for! This song is the one-of-a-kind edgy hard rock tune for the album with some incredible screaming vocals from Michael Barnes in the bridge.
"Who We Are" is an infectious song from start to finish that seems to take influence from Linkin Park's hit "New Divide". It reminds us that we don't have to worry about what the world perceives us to be in their eyes, because we are just who we are. "We can be who we are, now we are alive/We can fight, they cannot contain us/It's who we are, we are undying/We are forever." This song has to be my personal favourite off the entire album.
Until We Have Faces closes with "Best Is Yet To Come" and "Hymn For The Missing". "Best Is Yet To Come" is an upbeat tune giving listeners the hope that even after our world falls in a heap that there is hope of better things through God. "Hymn For The Missing" is a slow emotional piano driven ballad that reminds me of "Pieces" from the End Of Silence album. The song is dedicated to a friend of the band who has strayed from the Lord, as well as being a hope for other people who are lost in this world, that they will find the love of God. This song is very emotional, sometimes bringing tears to my eyes, and a perfect closer for the album.
Overall, Until We Have Faces is a very solid effort from Red, who prove that they are one of the strongest hard rock acts in the industry. It is a very challenging, thought provoking and emotional listen about finding our identity in this world. The only negative I have is that there was a lack of aggressive tracks on the album, with the opening track "Feed The Machine". I think that might be a bit of a blow to the hopes of long time fans of the band. The album definitely does take a while to grow on you, but once it does you're sure to be playing it over and over again. Red is one of those bands who can deliver a great mix of styles in their albums, and this one is no exception. This is a solid album, but not a great one, however it is by far the band's best project to date and definitely one to get your hands on, whether you're a hard rock fan or not.
Back in RED.| Posted February 02, 2011
So, I am very excited to be writing a review for RED's new album as I was just a couple days ago listening to their last album wondering when they would be putting a new album out, and Vua-la! Here it is, so without further-adu, here's my review.
Listening through for the first time, I have disapointments, and excitements. My disapointment comes from my own personal musicianship, meaning nothing seems to stand out as overly talented, or extremely different from their last album. Most of the intros to the songs sound the same as on Innocence and instinct; werbly sound effects, electric drum beats, crashing into heavy guitar driven grooves, (sadly most of the songs start that way).
My excitement comes from hearing how Mr. Micheal Barnes used some unique and interesting vocal melodies on the tracks and coupled them with good harmonies, as well as the variety between the songs, which range from heavy rock, to slow ballad type songs. As always, Barnes conveys much emotion through his voice which helps the listener to connect with the music. I was also happy to hear RED utilizing new elements to their music, from simple "OH oh"s, to overlapping vocal parts, to female vocal improve, they seem to have stepped up the elements within the music.
I have a near bittersweet feeling about the album, in that I was hoping for some faster tunes that can get your heart thumping, and while they did have a couple slightly faster tempo tunes, they were not fast or near fast. They were still rather straight heavy rock. For me it was a disapointement, however for heavy rock-go-ers, it may be just the ticket.
I have not focused very much on the lyrics this time through, but from what I have caught they are rather connective to how I imagine most people feel at times, and may be just what people need to hear to know they aren't alone in feeling that way, I imagine there is more meat to them than that, but that's what I picked up from one run through of the album. :] Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this review and that it helps you decide about whether to purchase this alubm or not.
5/5| Posted February 02, 2011
Red returns with a new album that shows off how much they have grown musically since their debut 5 years ago. As always, this album has a concept just like the other ones. This time they tackle the theme of finding identity. Using the motif of faces, the band tells us through 11 tracks that we do not need to conform to what the world tells us to do, and you should just live life to the fullest your own way. It's this great message, as well as the other messages in their previous albums, that makes Red one of my favorite bands. Musically, it's Red. Epic strings mixed with brutal guitars and drums. The band seemed to find their groove on their last album and have tweaked it ever so slightly for this album to make it sound amazing. There are so many great anthem songs to be found on here like "Faceless" and "Who We Are." The ballads also feel genuinely special and really serve to emphasize the overall message that the band is talking about. Until We Have Faces is a great album through and through and is already an early front-runner for album of the year.
SIDENOTE: The cover art kind of reminds me of Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Red's "Until We Have Faces"| Posted February 02, 2011
With each release, Red has always delivered a unique, strong sounding album which always qualifies for fist-pumping, heart-pounding, and thought-provoking behavior. Until We Have Faces is no different. Focused on bringing a deeper and heavier album to the table, Red does so without a question. This is most clearly seen in their tracks "Feed The Machine" and "Faceless", their first two singles from this album.
But not only does Red bring adrenaline pumping tracks to the table, but the soft, intimate and slightly eerie "Hymn for the Missing" brings back the strings/piano sound similar to "Take it all Away" on their last album, Innocence and Instinct.
My only issue with the album is I feel like I haven't had enough by the time it ends, which honestly, isn't really an issue at all... just proof of my obvious addiction to this CD.
This album is a MUST buy as it not only shows how far Red has come as a band since their debut album, but that they have much more to offer in the years to come.
Red Screams Louder Than Ever| Posted February 01, 2011
When I was first introduced to RED back in 2004 by a music rep for Provident-Integrity Music, I wasn't sure what I would hear on the early sampler. I popped in the CD and started rocking out before my workout at the gym. I took the CD into the gym, told the front desk manager to pop this in the player, and the exercise rooms went crazy. People all over the place were asking, "who is this?!"
This new album goes to show the maturity of Red and how far they've taken this album to the next level. This is the hardest stuff I've heard yet from Red. With all the changes they've gone through the last couple of years, these guys continue to make large strides in the music industry leaving a footprint that will last for years! Rock on Red!
R u Kidding me?| Posted February 01, 2011
Can RED really be this good? I am not one for hard rock or even an screaming and yet I can't get away from RED. They are just too good. This album is such a breath of fresh air for this band. Not really a new style but a new quality. They have taken the best parts of the previous two albums and added killer lyrics and came out with an amazing sound. I so can't wait till the roads are cleared so I can go buy this album. I would do amazon but I don't want to have to wait for it to be shipped. Yeah, it's that good.
awesome| Posted February 01, 2011
Again Red has put out an awesome album. Great message, great lyrics, great band. I love this.
I got to see them at Winter Jam in Florida and I along with my sons want to see a full concert from Red, not just four songs. They could have kept playing all night.
Different Sound| Posted February 01, 2011
Though Red, at is core, is the same band, "Until We Have Faces" has a sound that's a bit different from their previous albums.
I've always been a big fan of Red, but I have to say, I really like the slight changes to their sound on this album. Some of the songs are definitely heavier with the screaming and over-all intensity. The other things I was surprised about were the additions of a chorus and female voices in the background. If I'd been told about this before listening to the album, I probably would've had mixed feelings about it. Now that I've listened to the album, I'm absolutely blown away! And the fac that this was a concept album just topped it all off. Amazing work!
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